Albany-Rennselaer Station Expansion Completed

Amtrak has completed its expansion at the Albany-Rensselaer, New York, station and the added fourth track is expected to reduce delays by adding additional track capacity.

The station ranks as one of Amtrak’s 10 busiest in the nation.

A New York Department of Transportation spokeswoman said Amtrak is now using all four tracks at the station and that canopies are being built over the extended platforms.

Carol Breen said the agency and Amtrak are spending $300 million to improve the railroad infrastructure used by Amtrak in the Capital Region.

One beneficiary of the longer platforms will be the Chicago-New York/Boston Lake Shore Limited. On some days the Lake Shore has 14 or more cars.

The Albany-Rensselaer station opened in 2002 and was designed to have two platforms and four tracks. But the fourth track was eliminated as a cost-saving measure.

Other projects being undertaken to improve service include adding a second track between Albany and Schenectady, installing new signals, and improving some grade crossings.

“The additional capacity has made a big difference in terms of train movements, providing dispatchers with much more flexibility to move trains in and out of the station and minimizing delays to passengers,” said Amtrak spokesman Craig Schulz.